Gardening and Living in Grand StyleFertilizers and nutrients help gardens grow…

by
Michael Johnson Utah State University Extension Agent, Grand CountyMoab Times Independent

Mar 07, 2013 | 1240 views | 0 | 3 | |

As mentioned in my last article, with the increase in temperatures people are thinking about and planning for this year’s gardening season. Soil preparation, adding organic matter and garden plot design are all very important elements to successful garden, but there’s another critical element that involves soil nutrients.

Appropriate levels of nutrients in the soil are needed to achieve good sustained plant growth. The main elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the most critical. As such, some of these elements may need to be periodically added to achieve that best plant growth. Of these main elements, phosphorus and potassium are the most likely to reach a level in the soil of home gardeners where future applications can be few and far between. This is because those elements are harder to leach from the soil and aren’t normally used in such high quantities each season as nitrogen.

Submitting a soil test to a quality lab every three to five years will show you the levels of phosphorus and potassium in your soil and whether there is a need to apply more. Nitrogen is water soluble and can be leached from the soil with inappropriate watering. Since nitrogen is the nutrient responsible for rapid leafy green growth, it needs to be applied to the soil each and every year.

Should your soil test show that you need to apply any of these nutrients there are options for how to do so. Conventional fertilizers often offer all three main nutrients in similar amounts, such as a 16-16-16 application; in varying amounts, such as a 28-3-10 application; or as single nutrients, such as in a 21-0-0 application. These fertilizers are usually fast-release and provide nutrients to the plants quickly, but it is possible to find formulations that are encapsulated for slower release over time. You can also find conventional fertilizers with micro-nutrient packages, although rarely is this required for the home gardener.

There are also organic fertilizers that are packaged in a similar way as conventional fertilizers, with the three main nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – along with other minor nutrients. These packaged organic fertilizers can provide nutrients faster than other types of organic materials and so are similar to conventional fertilizers, although not quite as fast-release in nature.

There are also organic materials, such as manures, composts and cover crops, as well as other specific types, such as bone, blood, cottonseed, and fish meals or even grass clippings and leaves. All of these, in appropriate amounts, can be used as fertilizers and provide some nutrients or all three main nutrients. While some of these materials provide fast-release, most are slow- to very slow-release. More importantly, they usually have very low nutrient levels, meaning that substantially more of these materials is required to provide adequate fertilization.

The bottom line is that plants need nutrients, which means at some point you will need to fertilize. Understanding your soil nutrient levels and the materials you are using is critical to having good plant growth. However, regardless of the materials used to fertilize, the tendency is to add more potassium and phosphorus than is required but not enough nitrogen, which is a critical yearly need. Soil testing is a great way to make sure what you truly need for your garden.

Thought for the day: “You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.” —Author unknown.

For more information about these topics call the Utah State University Extension Grand County office at 259-7558 or email Mike Johnson at mike.johnson@usu.edu.

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.